Collapsible hurdle



Jan. 30, 1968 w. L. ROSS 3,366,381

COLLAPS I BLE HURDLE Filed April 15, 1965 INVENTOR WlLBUR L. RosS ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,366,381 COLLAPSIBLE HURDLE Wilbur L. Ross, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rice (25 42nd St. NE, Washington, DC. 249019) Filed Apr. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 448,338 7 Claims. (Cl. 272-59) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible hurdle having a pair of vertically adjustable posts supported by foldable base members and an inverted U-shaped cross bar composed of sections pivotally connected to said posts and foldable into straddling relation to said posts when collapsed, the bight portion of said cross bar being transversely curved to form a convex upper surface.

This invention relates to a collapsible hurdle for use in hurdling races or other athletic games.

The hurdle comprises a pair of upright posts composed of telescoping tubular sections adjustable to vary the height of the posts and groundengaging bars pivotally attached to the lower end of the posts which are foldable against the posts when not in use. A cross bar formed of fiberglass or similar synethic materials, which is U-shape in cross section, extends between the posts and is inverted so that the upper ends of the posts fit between the walls of the cross bar. The cross bar is pivotally attached to the posts and is divided intermediate its length to form two sections which are foldable into straddling relation to the posts when collapsed. Releasable means secures the sections of the cross bar in a horizontal position and means is provided to connect the abutting ends of the sections together when the hurdle is assembled. A foldable lower cross bar extends between the lower ends of the-posts and weights are attached to the ground-engaging bars to hold the posts in a vertical position unless moved by force. The novelty resides in the combination of elements Which enable the hurdle to be compactly folded so that it occupies a minimum of space when being stored or transported from place to place. A particular feature of the invention is the construction of the cross bar of fiberglass which is U-shaped in cross section and divided intermediate its length into two sections with each section being pivotally attached to one of the posts and being foldable into straddling relation to the posts. The bight portion of the U-shape bar is rounded to form a smooth outer surface which prevents injury to the hurdler if hestrikes the bar and also prevents damage to the bar.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hurdle in erected position,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hurdle in collapsed position,

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the hurdle shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a side view of the hurdle showing part of the post broken away, and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the hurdle shown in FIG. 1.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, the numerals 5 and 6 denote a pair of upright members, each member being composed of telescoping tubular sections 7 and 3, slidably and rotatably fitted together. The lower end of the tubular section 7 is pivotally mounted, as at 9, between the sides of a U-shape base member 10 adjacent one end thereof and attached to the outer sides of 3,366,331 Patented Jan. 30, 1968 the base member at its opposite end are weights 11. Pivoted connecting arms 12 and 13 between the tubular section 7 and base member normally supports the tubular section in an upright position but are collapsible to permit the tubular member to be folded into nested engagement with the U-shape base member. The tubular section 8 is adjustable to project from the upper end of the tubular section 7 being held in its adjusted position by a pin 14 insertable through registering openings in the tubular sections. The pin 14 is attached to the section 8 by a chain 15.

The sections 8 of the upright members 5 and 6 support a cross bar 16 made of fiberglass or other synthetic materials which is molded to form a bar which is U-shape in cross section. The bight portion 17 of the U-shaped bar is smoothly rounded to form a curved surface free of 0bstructions. The outer surface of the bar may be provided with spaced strips of luminous material 18 fabricated into the material of the bar. The bar 16 is divided into two sections of equal length, each section being inverted to fit over the upper end of tubular section 8 with the walls of the bar straddling the tubular section and pivotally connected to the tubular section by a pivot pin 19. The walls or" the bar are provided with openings above the pivot pin which register with an opening through the tubular section when the bar is in a horizontal position to receive a bolt 20 for holding the bar in a horizontal position. With a section of the cross bar 16 attached to the tubular section 8 of each of the upright members, the abutting ends of the sections of the bar are connected together by hooks 21 pivotally attached to the side walls of one section which engage eyes 22 attached to the side walls of the other section. A lower cross bar 23 extends between the lower ends of the upright members 5 and 6 which is formed of two sections, each section having one end pivotally attached, as at 24, to the section 7 of an upright member and their opposite ends disposed in overlapping relation and slidably held together by a clip 25 embracing the overlapping ends.

In use, the hurdle may be easily erected, as shown in FIG. 1, by swinging the upright members 5 and 6 to a position at right angles to the base members 10 in which position they are held by the connecting arms 12 and 13. The weights 11 attached to the base members maintain the upright members in a vertical position unless moved by force. The cross bar 16 and lower cross bar 23 maintain the upright members in spaced relation and the height of the cross bar may be adjusted by raising or lowering the tubular section 8 in the tubular section 7. The sections of the cross bar 16 are each fixedly secured in a horizontal position by removable bolts 20 with the adjoining ends of the sections held together by books 21. To collapse the hurdle the books 21, holding the adjoining ends of the sections of the cross bar 16, are released and the bolts 20 are removed. The sections of the lower cross bar 23 are disconnected and folded in parallel relation to the upright members and then the sections of the cross bar 16 are folded to straddle the upright members. The connecting arms 12 and 13 are folded to swing the base member 19 towards the upright members, so that each upright member and its adjoining parts are compactly folded for storing in a small space or transporting from place to place. By making the U-shaped cross bar 16 of fiberglass or similar synthetic materials and rounding the bight portion to form a smooth curved edge the danger of injury to the hurdler if he should strike the bar is reduced and also damage to the bar, if struck, is reduced.

It is to be understood that a preferred example of the invention has been illustrated and described herein and that the invention is capable of being modified in certain detailed respects without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A hurdle comprising a pair of spaced upright members, base members supporting said upright members, an inverted U-shaped cross bar composed of two sections, each section being pivotally connected to the upper end of one of said upright members and foldable into straddling relation to said upright members, and means for securing the sections of said bar in alinement and their adjoining ends in abutting engagement.

2. A hurdle as described in claim 1 wherein the bight portion of said cross bar is transversely curved to provide a convex surface.

3. A hurdle comprising a pair of spaced upright members, each member comprising telescoping tubular sections, base members attached to the outer section of said upright members, pivoted links between the outer section and base member for supporting the base member at right angles to the outer section, an inverted U-shape cross bar composed of two sections, each section being pivotally connected to the inner section of one of said upright members and means releasably holding the sections of said cross bar in alinement and at right angles to said base member, said sections being foldable into straddling relation to said upright members.

4. A hurdle comprising a pair of spaced upright members, each member comprising telescoping tubular sections, base members pivotally attached to the outer tubular section of said upright members, pivoted links between the outer tubular section of said upright members and base members for holding the base member at right angles to said upright members, said base member being foldable against said upright member, an inverted U- shape cross bar composed of two sections each section being pivotally mounted on the inner tubular section of an upright member to swing downwardly into straddling relation to the upright member and in alinement with the folded base member.

5. A collapsible hurdle comprising a pair of spaced upright members composed of tubular telescoping sections, a U-shape ground-engaging bar fitted over the lower end of the outer tubular section of said upright members and pivotally connected thereto, pivoted links between the outer tubular section and said ground-engaging bar for holding said upright members at right angles to said bar, said bar being foldable against said upright, an inverted U-shape cross bar of fiberglass material and having luminous stripes at spaced intervals in its outer surface, the bight portion of said bar being rounded to provide a smooth outer surface, said cross bar being divided into two sections, each section straddling the upper end of the inner tubular section of an upright member, means pivotally connecting the sections of the cross bar to the inner tubular section of the upright members to permit folding of the sections of the cross bar against the upright members, and means for fixedly securing the sections of said cross bar in a horizontal position with the ends of the sections in abutting relation.

6. A collapsible hurdle as described in claim 5 in cluding a separable cross bar extending between the lower ends of said upright members.

7. A collapsible hurdle as described in claim 5 in cluding weights attached to the outer walls of said groundengaging bar.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 662,810 11/1900 Peak ,272-59 2,706,631 4/1955 Holmes 27259 2,805,062 9/1957 Holmes 27259 2,827,116 3/ 1958 Zalovcik 27259 3,024,022 3/1962 Goyette 27259 3,061,306 10/1962 Magill 27259 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. 

